Timothy C Holehouse – To The Howls… review

Just found this review of To The Howls At Midnight by Timothy C Holehouse as well!

http://cowsarejustfood.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/timothy-c-holehouse-to-the-howls-at-midnight-dead-pilot-records/

xx

Message to Bears – Departures review!

Check out this lovely write up about Departures:

http://sonicreverie.blogspot.com/2009/07/chat-with-message-to-bears.html

Thanks xx

Dead Pilot Records on Twitter

For all of you techno-boobs and future-whats-its, I’ve made a Twitter for Dead Pilot. I’m not sure I understand it yet, but I think I’ve posted some updates already. Good times!

http://twitter.com/deadpilotrecs

x

Message to Bears – Departures Pre Orders now shipping

MESSAGE TO BEARS – DEPARTURES NOW AVAILABLE

STREAM THE ENTIRE ALBUM HER:

http://www.last.fm/music/Message+to+Bears/Departures

Full length CD album from Jerome aka Message to Bears, Oxfords premiere ambient folker. Here he brings us 10 tracks of his gorgeous acoustic guitar driven melancholy, begining with the the aptly titled “Running Through Woodland”, the track sets a menacing pace with layers of guitars and cellos. “Hidden Beneath” is driven by a stomping pulse and delightful percussion. Plenty of glock action and viola sweeps, uplifting choral vocals and delicate piano lines, this is Jerome at his finest yet, showcasing a brilliant melodic ability, combing classical instrumentation into a folk/pop structure taking cues from bands such as Explosions in the Sky. This is an album that will leave you speechless every time you listen as you uncover new hidden details, textures and melodies. I couldn’t be prouder to release this.

500 copies on PRO REPLICATED CD (not CDR) housed in an arigato pak, with insert. Hand numbered, each with an individual old photography and all wrapped in brown paper, hand stamped and tied with string, which perfectly compliments the music.

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/message-to-bears-departures-pre-order

Thanks for your patience. xxxxxx

Douleurfantome OUT NOW plus other news

Douleurfantomes’ epic “Part 1.5″ disc is available now in the store!

“

Douleurfantome, aka Creature, is Vincent Vigier. A one man guitar manipulator, thrasher, noiser, droner, genius. People who have been following the store for some time now will know that Vincent’s album under the Creature alias was one of my favourite listening experiences in a long time. After exchanging a few emails and doing a few trades, Vincent started sending me demos of a few tracks he was working on and the result is this release; Part 1.5. Two tracks totaling at 22 minutes.

The first track entitled “50Moloch” is a slow builder of dread filled static that erupts with fierce and intense walls of screaming guitars. It’s like a tangled radio broadcast from a war torn future, ending with mournful yet harsh and crusty guitar clatters.

The second and final track entitled “55Leviathan” is a bleak dirge through melancholic noise explosions and celestial textures. There is an underlining sadness to be heard through the layers of fuzz and sludge that is touching and unique.

Packaged in card windowed digipak with art by Vincent. Limited to 100 copies.
“

Buy it: http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/dourleurfantome-part-1-5

Stream it: http://www.last.fm/music/Douleurfantome/Part+1.5

Also, the Drone Poets compilation is now available to pre order. I’m very excited about this as I’ve managed to get together a fantastic set of artists and they’ve given me some amazing music to use on the comp. Full tracklisting and info is here: http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/drone-poets-2xcdr-comp-pre-order

Also, an update on the progress of Message to Bears – Departures. Apologies for the delays. I am awaiting the final parts of the packaging (stickers and stamp) and then I will be able to start assembling them and sending out the pre orders. Whilst I’m, here, I should add that Jerome is playing his first live gig with Message to Bears. Fingers crossed the album will be ready in time and I will be there to sell it!

More info: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=78155009&blogId=490006893

Finally, lots of releases planned for this year. Including some pretty epic big wowzer ones. More info soon.

Thanks xxxxxxxx

Timothy C. Holehouse

Dead Pilot is proud to present:

Timothy C. Holehouse – To The Howls At Midnight

“

Tim Holehouse is quite a legend, if you haven’t heard of him by now you really ought to be ashamed of yourself. He has spent many years touring and releasing alt country/folk records under the name “Tim Holehouse” but has recently split himself in two. Now Tim presents his other half “Timothy C. Holehouse” where he finds himself exploring darker areas of his musical mind.

“To The Howls At Midnight” is the first full length album from this new side and is a sister album to the Tim Holehouse record “From The Dawn Chorus” (which is out on beautiful “orange” vinyl and can be bought directly from the man himself I believe: http://www.myspace.com/timothycholehouse). Recorded over the new years period of 2007-2008, this is an intensely eerie and minimal album of deep and warm melodies and drone. Bent guitar swells and subtle drones layered over broken drum beats. I can’t think of anything that sounds remotely like what Tim is doing at the moment so do yourself a favor and give this a listen.

Packaged in windowed digipak with beautiful artwork and printing by Joey at Vision Incision. Limited to 100 copies.”

£5.00

Available now!

Message to Bears – Departures

A very kind review written by Colin MacKinnon over at Oxfordbands.com
http://www.oxfordbands.com/2009/03/07/message-to-bears-departures/

“Jerome Alexander’s ‘Message to Bears‘ project provided Oxfordshire music with one of its finest records of 2008 in the shape of ‘EP One’, a collection of hushed, hypnotic instrumentals, dominated by dreamlike strings and translucent acoustic guitars with a dash of scratchy electronica. Everyone I’ve played it to has loved it, whether they were seen-it-all-before music producers, professional scientists or Christmas party animals. ‘Departures’ the full-length album that follows that first-rate debut, is every bit as wonderful as its predecessor.

Despite the title, there is no great departure in style from the earlier record. The recording is significantly more professional (less stool-squeaking), and the string arrangements are lusher, but the almost-painful pastoralism, the craftsmanship in construction and above all the cinematic potential are all present in spades. Songs like ‘Autumn’ almost make one want to go off and write a screenplay. You simply can’t live in Oxfordshire and listen to music like this without thinking of the landscapes near Uffington, the chalk downs above Blewbury or even those strange villas observable from the train between Cholsey and Goring. This music may be timeless but it’s anything but placeless.

Highlights are too many to mention. ‘Hidden Beneath’ plays with a four-to-the-floor dance beat, but what really matters is Alexander’s guitar-picking, a shining, bell-like sound so distinctive he could almost patent it. ‘Pretend to Forget’ is heart-crackingly desolate, with a gorgeously dissonant cello and violin part to complement the intricate guitar work. ‘Hope’ dispenses with the guitars, leaving the strings to work the magic. Beginning with a series of mighty, sustained chords redolent of Barrington Pheloung’s scores for Inspector Morse, the track then expands majestically with the introduction of tremoloed triple-time violins and further deepening of the chord structure by the addition of inner parts. This is the sound of a popular composer at his meridian.

Elsewhere on the record, Alexander allows himself to depart from formula a little. ‘November’ uses piano as the main rhythm instrument, rather than his usual guitar, taking him temporarily into Eric Satie territory, while remaining consistent with the vision of the album. On ‘At the Top of This Hill’, he even allows himself to sing a little (hum, really) and his sister Gemma is pressed into vocal service on the otherwise slightly dull track ‘Snowdonia’. The record ends with an eerie little sequence of high-frequency Rhodes piano chords, with the title ‘Lost Birds’.

So finishes a magnificent piece of modern-day musical impressionism. This is music of depth, vision and humanity: I find it hard to think that anyone could fail to be touched by the second half of ‘Hope’ or all of ‘Autumn’. Find it, buy it, love it.”

By Colin MacKinnon

PREORDER NOW! http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/message-to-bears-departures-pre-order

Tracklisting:

1.Running Through Woodland
2.Hidden Beneath
3.Pretend To Forget
4.Hope
5.Autumn
6.At The Top Of This Hill
7.November
8.Snowdonia
9.Find Our Way Home
10.Lost Birds

Limited to 500 copies on pro replicated CD (NOT cdr!) and housed in an Arigato Pak.

Shipping late May!

1877 and Bjerga/Iversen out now PLUS Message to Bear Pre-orders!!

Hi all, I trust the Easter weekend is treating you well? Here’s something else for your sweet tooth.

1877 – I Am An Antagonist

Brand new single from Bucks based noise rock/art pop crusaders 1877.

Title track “I Am Antagonist” sees the band build from up tempo electro beats to walls of synths and feedback, with a deep underlining melancholy. Think Fuck Buttons meets Joy Division with a hint of Mogwai.

The second track on the disc is a post punk electro rock bliss out, entitled “Narcolepsy”.

Reviews:

“I’m picking up a definite shift towards post punk artists like Kraftwerk, New Order and the like at the moment. And 1877 are one of the better bands to emerge from this gene pool. The electronic drums and snapping snare are pinned tight back and allow the phasing synths and streams of guitar to eddy around the deliberately low mixed vocals. It’s Depeche Mode picking a fight with Trent Reznor. It’s very dark. It’s very mesmeric. It’s very good.”http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/singles83feb09.htm#1877

“Serious, strong stuff on 1877’s debut release. Antagonist begins with electronic percussion and keyboards before the guitars come in backing submerged Curtis inflected vocals. Cold and powerfully arranged the instruments mesh and splinter menacingly.
B side Narcolepsy is, if possible, even more intense. Guitar and Bass drive relentlessly reminding the reviewer of Sumner and Hook on Interzone. True to its title, the track carries a bleak Burroughsian menace which has gone unheard in music for far too long.
Chris Stanley in The-Mag wrote, “They carry a genuine menace and intensity”. I can only, totally, wholeheartedly agree. Excellent!” http://www.thenewroxette.com/reviews.asp

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aofaNct7W8g

Stream:

http://www.last.fm/music/1877/I+am+an+Antagonist

Limited to 100 copies, packaged in classic Dead Pilot windowed card digipak.

Bjerga/Iversen – The Luminous Disc In The Sky

Legendary experimental droners Bjerga/Iversen need no introduction. They’ve been on the scene for years now and have truly honed their sound to perfection. They’ve had releases on all the great DIY/CDr labels and have now they’ve contributed to Dead Pilot.

Here they present a static tinged minimalism piece that ranges from deep buzzing tones to industrial wails to crippled electronics. A murky drift through a ruined future. Deep, and highly recommended if you’ve checked out the Hourglass Drops/Wereju and Dead Wood/Phantom Heron Seas splits.

Packaged in a lush hand stamped blue envelope with paper wallet and textured paper insert, limited to 50!

PLUS!

I am now taking PRE-ORDERS for the brand new Message to Bears full length album entitled “Departures”. It will be out on a pro replicated CD (not CDr!) and packaged in a fancy Arigato Pak. This will be the first real CD out on Dead Pilot and I couldn’t be happier that it will be for Jerome’s amazing music. I expect everything to be ready to ship sometime in May but of course I will keep you posted throughout the project.

Thank you all for your continued interest and support!!

Jasper TX most popular single on Norman!

Jasper TX – Untitled Nr. 7 is the most popular single this week at Norman records!

http://www.normanrecords.com/recommendations.php#singles

Here’s what they had to say about the single:

“…this is like a sister release to the excellent ‘Singing Stones’ CD on Fang Bomb. Dont be fooled into thinking you’ve been sold a dud when you dont hear any audio for almost 2 minutes as there is a silence that clears the airwaves and washes aside all that you’ve been to listening before it to prepare you for the piece on its own terms. Then Dag Rosenquist slowly and skillfully builds a throbbing hum of ambient drone that slowly morphs and rumbles, gently building into a rumbling low end oscillation. It’s a fine example of subtlety of transformation and a damn fine minimal piece. Gradually details are revealed and I’m thoroughly enjoying the way this track devolops over its 20 minute duration.”

Excellent!

Also; just a quick note to say those who have ordered the new Dead Pilot sampler, they will be ready next week, thanks!

Jasper TX 3 inch disc OUT NOW

BRAND NEW 3INCH DISC FROM JASPER TX. COMPANION TO HIS RECENT FULL LENGTH ALBUM “SINGING STONES”. LIMITED TO 110 COPIES WORLDWIDE!

Dag Rosenqvist aka Jasper TX (one half of the post rock duo De La Mancha) has been producing his own brand of unique ambience for some time now, having had releases with Lampse, Miasmah, most recently Fang Bomb and self releasing various 3inch CDrs inbetween. It is with much honor that I welcome Dag into the “Dead Pilot ranks” (as it were).

With this 3 inch disc, Dag has really honed in on the drone sound he has only vaguely touched upon before. Building from subtle organ tones to dense low end drones and peaking with fizzing glory and triumph, this perfectly crafted 20 minute piece shows Dags ear for minimalism and subtle shifts in melody and texture. It’s slow burning development makes the peak much more euphoric and intense. Like Stars of the Lid remixed by Machinefabriek.

Limited to 110 copies worldwide packaged in miniature DVD style case with photography artwork by Peter Broderick (yes THAT Peter Broderick) and textured paper insert.

Also, new Stefan Kushima CDr and A Death CInematics 2xCDr album added to distro!